A capturing and viewing appliance and method are provided for capturing and communicating images to other devices with communication capabilities. The capturing and viewing appliance includes a processor for manipulating and viewing the images on a built-in display. Program code stored in internal memory includes an error utility interface which informs the user of an error in operating the appliance. According to another aspect of the invention, the error interface provides a user-friendly interface for learning how to correctly operate the appliance after an error in operation has occurred. Through the use of icons, operational buttons, and animated sequences the present invention presents a novel user interface which makes the error interface and method a solution in devices with limited resources which need to be able to communicate with users correct methods of operating an appliance. The error interface and method is designed for communicating with the user through instrument reuse which is especially useful in portable hand-held appliances or other devices which are capable of displaying images where space and compactness are a concern.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A digital camera, comprising: a photoelement array for acquiring image data; a memory for saving said image data; a processor in communication with said memory; a display in communication with said processor for exhibiting said image data; and program code stored in said memory and executed by said processor for manipulating said image data, said program code comprising an error utility software module for providing a user with information on incorrectly operating said digital camera.
2. The digital camera of claim 1 , wherein said program code further comprises: an error utility software module for providing the user with information on correctly operating said digital camera.
3. The digital camera of claim 1 , wherein said program code further comprises: a first code segment for displaying text on said display.
4. The digital camera of claim 3 , wherein said program code further comprises: a second code segment for displaying an animation on said display.
5. The digital camera of claim 1 , further comprising: means for communicating image data with a remote device.
6. A digital camera, comprising: capturing means for acquiring image data; storage means for saving said image data; processing means in communication with said storage means; display means in communication with said processing means for exhibiting said image data; and program means stored in said storage means and executed by said processing means for manipulating said image data, said program means comprising an error utility software module for providing a user with information on incorrectly and correctly operating said digital camera.
7. The digital camera of claim 6 , wherein said program means further comprises: a dialog module for displaying information on a plurality of operational errors and correct method of operation on said display and processing any user selection for more information.
8. The digital camera of claim 6 , wherein said error utility module comprises: a first code segment for displaying text on said display.
9. The digital camera of claim 6 , further comprising: means for communicating image data with a remote device.
10. The digital camera of claim 6 , wherein said error utility module comprises: a second code segment for displaying an animation on said display.
11. The digital camera of claim 6 , wherein said program means further comprises a dialog module for displaying information on a plurality of operational errors and correct method of operation on said display and said error utility software module comprises: a first code segment for displaying text correlated with at least one of said operational errors on said display; a second code segment for displaying an animation correlated with at least one of said operational errors on said display; and a third code segment for scrolling said display to communicate a plurality of screens of information to the user.
12. The digital camera of claim 11 , further comprising: a fourth code segment for providing an icon representative of a user interface on said digital camera for scrolling between screens of information on said display.
13. The digital camera of claim 11 , wherein said icon comprises: a pair of opposing arrows with each arrow uniquely representing a logical scroll direction.
14. A method for providing error information to a user of a digital camera having a built-in display, comprising the steps of: processing a user execution of an erroneous operation performed by the user of the digital camera; and displaying a textual dialog containing operational error information and method of correct operation information that is correlated with said erroneous operation executed by the user of the digital camera.
15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising the step of: scrolling said display to communicate a plurality of screens of information in response to a logical scroll direction entered by the user.
16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising the step of: providing an icon representative of a user interface on said digital camera for scrolling between screens of information on said display.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein said icon comprises a pair of opposing arrows with each arrow representing a unique said logical scroll direction and further comprising the step of: emphasizing one of said arrows representing a correct logical scroll direction in response to an invalid scroll direction entered by the user.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein said arrow representing said correct logical scroll direction is emphasized through blinking.
19. A method for providing error information to a user of a digital camera having a built-in display, comprising the steps of: processing a user execution of an erroneous operation performed by the user of the digital camera; and displaying an animated sequence conveying operational error information and method of correct operation information that is correlated with said erroneous operation executed by the user of the digital camera.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein said animation plays when scrolled onto said display.
21. The method of claim 20 , wherein said animation replays after completion when scrolled off said display and onto said display again.
22. The method of claim 19 , further comprising the step of: communicating image data with a remote device.
23. A computer readable medium having a program for manipulating image data acquired by a digital camera, said program code comprising: logic configured to recognize erroneous operation of said digital camera; and logic configured for displaying a textual dialog containing operational error information and method of correct operation information that is correlated with said erroneous operation executed by the user of the digital camera.
24. The computer readable medium of claim 23 , further comprising: logic configured for scrolling said display to communicate a plurality of screens of information in response to a logical scroll direction entered by the user.
25. The computer readable medium of claim 23 , further comprising: logic configured for providing an icon representative of a user interface on said digital camera for scrolling between screens of information on said display.
26. The computer readable medium of claim 23 , further comprising: logic configured for communicating image data to a remote device.
27. A computer readable medium having a program for manipulating image data acquired by a digital camera, said program code comprising: logic configured to recognize erroneous operation of said digital camera; and logic configured for displaying an animated sequence containing operational error information and method of correct operation information that is correlated with said erroneous operation executed by the user of the digital camera.
28. A digital camera, comprising: processing means for processing a user execution of an erroneous operation of the digital camera; and display means for displaying a textual dialog containing operational error information and method of correct operation information that is correlated with an erroneous operation executed by a user of the digital camera.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
January 18, 2002
December 6, 2005
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